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406Link.com

EPIRB/PLB/ELT Advanced Testing Services

With our advanced testing technology, you can now test your beacon through the same Search and Rescue Satellites to confirm your beacon is working perfectly.

More Information

With the push of a button, receive an email and/or SMS text message confirming the receipt of your beacon self test. Using our www.406link.com optional subscription service, its as easy as creating an account, setting up the contacts you wish to receive your test message and then going outside and performing a normal self test or GPS self test.

Manuals / Approvals / Downloads

FAQs

Q: What is a Through Satellite Self Test?

As opposed to a normal Self Test which only checks the internal
operation of the beacon and provides a local indication of pass or
fail, a Through Satellite Self Test does just that, it checks that
the signal emitted by your beacon can be picked up by the
Cospas-Sarsat satellites and can be detected and decoded by the
ground stations, thus providing a complete test of the system from
end to end.

Normal Cospas-Sarsat Ground Stations ignore Self Test messages,
but the SafeLife Systems ground receiving stations have been
specially adapted to receive these Self Test messages so that we
can provide you with this ultimate level of confidence in the
operation of your beacon in an emergency.

Q: What does a Through Satellite Self Test check?

Assuming that your beacon transmits a message during the Self
Test (you can check whether your beacon actually transmits a Self
Test burst or not by looking it up in the list of beacons here) then you can use the
SafeLife Systems Through Satellite Self Test.

The Through Satellite Self Test carries out a normal Self Test
of your beacon and works in exactly the same way as normal, but the
transmitted Self Test message is picked up by the SafeLife Systems
ground receiving stations and is decoded in the same way that a
real message would be to provide the same information that would be
provided to the rescue services in the case of an emergency.

Specifically we are able to determine and provide the following
information:

Confirmation of whether or not, your beacon would be detected
by the satellites used by the International Search and Rescue
network

In addition, you will be provided with the encoded beacon
information (15 HEX ID, Country Code, Beacon Type and Programmed
Identity) for your verification / records.

In addition if you have a GPS Beacon that can perform a GPS Self
Test then we can also provide:

The encoded location transmitted as a part of the Beacon
message

We can also provide:

An official Record of the test and the results where this is
required to satisfy regulatory or commercial requirements

Q: What are the advantages of a Through Satellite Self Test?

Compared to a normal Self Test a Through Satellite Self Test
offers the following advantages:

Confidence that you beacon can transmit a signal that can be
picked up by the satellites

Confidence that your beacon transmits a signal that can be
recognized and decoded by the ground stations

Confidence that the details programmed into your beacon are
correct, thus helping to speed up any rescue should one be
necessary at some point in the future

Overall confidence in the complete system from end to end in
case of an emergency

If your Beacon is fitted with a GPS Self Test then confidence
that the GPS Receiver is working correctly and that the beacon
correctly encodes your location into the transmitted message and
that it is received and decoded correctly

Q: Are there any beacons that I can't test using 406Link.com?

406Link is compatible with all currently available ACR and/or
Artex beacons. It is also compatible with most previous ACR/Artex
models. 406MHz beacons made by manufacturers other than ACR or
Artex cannot be used on 406Link.com.

You can check whether your beacon actually transmits a Self Test
burst or not by looking it up in the list of beacons here

Q: How do I carry out a Through Satellite Self Test?

In order to carry out a Through Satellite Self Test you must
first pre-arrange the Test by filling in the appropriate forms on
this web site (see the relevant area for your type of beacon).

You perform the test in the same way as you would for a normal
Self Test following the manufacturer's instructions in the user
manual for your beacon. However in addition you must also ensure
that:

You perform the test out of doors

That you have a clear view of the sky, especially to the South
(the satellites are typically located in a SE to SW direction at an
elevation angle of between 25 to 50 degrees).

That the Beacon antenna is vertical (pointing straight up at
the sky)

Specific details for each type of beacon are provided when you
register to test that beacon.

Q: What should I do if I get a Self Test failure?

If you get a Self Test failure, firstly check the instructions
in the user manual supplied with your Beacon, make sure you carried
out the test correctly and that you have followed any instructions
provided. If you are sure your Beacon failed the self test then you
should contact the beacon manufacturer or one of their appointed
service agents for further advice and instructions.

Q: How does the GPS Self Test feature work?

A lot of beacons on the market have the capability to do a GPS
test, in which the beacon turns the GPS engine on, acquires GPS
data and flashes a light to signify the test is completed. However,
ACR has optimized our new beacons in conjunction with 406Link so
that on New SARLink and AquaLink (PLB Models PLB-350B and PLB-350C)
can performs an automatic self test once this GPS test is
successful that will transmit the beacons GPS position in the self
test burst. Your GPS coordinates are sent to you with your location
plotted on an online map. Due to Cospas-Sarsat location
restrictions, the GPS position on the map will be within 100
meters.

Q: How many Self Tests and GPS Test can I perform?

EPIRB/PLB

Normal Self-Tests

GPS Tests

ResQLink PLB

220

12

ResQLink+ PLB

220

12

AquaLink PLB

420

12

AquaLink View PLB

420

60

GlobalFix Pro EPIRB

420

1

GlobalFix iPro EPIRB

420

1

Learn more about advanced satellite testing through the satellite system at 406Link.com